The Ouroboros That Is American Free Speech

Depicted as an infinity symbol from ancient times, Ouroboros is portrayed as a snake or dragon that eats its tail representing a circle of repeating time and renewal. "The ouroboros eats its own tail to sustain its life," explains writers at Token Rock, "in an eternal cycle of renewal. It is sometimes depicted in a lemniscate shape (figure eight)." 1

Spiritual and religious connections to the Ouroboros from the ancient world lends the infinity sign to such a sentiment as Ouroboros. Steeped in the mysterious and unfathomable to mortal reason, contemplative is the sign strangely representing eternity.

Numerous commentaries about this real process of devouring that occurs with snakes exist showing how the creatures can mistake their tails for another snake and attempt to consume themselves. Poetically, artistic, death and rebirth only to start again the process inspired man cultures by this sign of serpents. Of course, in reality, the snake that ate itself would die.

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Because there exist people who interpret MAGA as hate speech, they do what the racist Whites did in the past towards those who spoke out for the equal citizenship of African Americans or Blacks and women, they attack.

Free speech is a hallmark of societies based on democratic principles. It is the bedrock upon which all freedom stands. If ever that foundation becomes sandy, democracy sinks into quicksand resulting from the crumbling of that God-given infrastructure of all freedom.

Free speech in America has become Ouroboros. With all of its beauty in the symbolism of eternity, recyclic infinity, there exists a consuming process where all that is good or bad about it is eaten alive until it is no more.

The following video depicts that dual nature of free speech in America, how it turns in on itself in order to depict its freedom. The video contains speech that may be offensive.

Free speech is a hallmark of societies based on democratic principles. It is the bedrock upon which all freedom stands. If ever that foundation becomes sandy, democracy sinks into quicksand resulting from the crumbling of that God-given infrastructure of all freedom.

Make America Great Again, an adaptation of Ronald Regan's campaign slogan from the 1980s 'Let's Make America Great Again' (think about that) has more than one meaning to the person who uses it depending on his or her political interpretation. In the video above, those who attacked wearers of the MAGA hats think of the old regime where slavery, suffrage issues for women, or Jim Crow laws thrived in American history. Truthfully, some of the MAGA hat wears might think that way also!

Most of the MAGA people, I am confident, think of a time when people shared moral values, when the dollar meant something powerful, or when the phrase 'Made In America' meant superior quality--that line of thinking.

Because there exist people who interpret MAGA as hate speech, they do what the racist Whites did in the past towards those who spoke out for the equal citizenship of African Americans or Blacks and women, they attack. Freedom of speech is no longer a function of having differing views with the divine right to express them, but the privilege to express if the views fall within a prescribed social schema.

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In written intercourse with a friend, I received permission to apply a sentiment he expressed in an article regarding the error in American society for only focusing on the exceptions in American history of Blacks who overcame the racism perpetuated by the conglomeration of ethnicities called White culture. In it, he decries the error of celebrating the hero without exploring the problem that made a person a hero for succeeding in an unfair system.

We lose a valuable part of the lesson if we ignore the opposition. Inspecting and praising the qualities of the victor or the amazing black people in question is only a feel-good story, not a lesson, if we do not look closely at how and why there was opposition in the first place. And to feel good without doing the productive work is to take a social placebo. A sugar pill that feels nice but won’t lead to actual healing or getting well. We are not well and we need to learn the lessons that lead to healing. 2

The video is an indication of how well American society is not. In the past, it was legal for Whites to dominate and suppress minorities influence in society. Perpetuated in American culture from its genesis, the multi-ethnic Whiteness was and still is to many the supreme example of what constitutes epitomical cultural truth. It may no longer be on the law books, but it is in the media, comedies and such.

In a reversal of fortune, because America has not learned the lessons of the past as it focuses on the few heroes of the past without context, a "sugar pill," certain people believe that it is acceptable to subject MAGA hat wearers to abuse for supporting the president. That is the surface of the problem.

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The needs of the many do not outweigh the needs of the few. Neither should the needs of the few put at defiance the needs of many. Any time the rights of a few are trampled by anyone it is a loss for democracy. Unlike the Blacks and women who sought only to live in the United States as citizens with equal legal protection privileges, MAGA hat wears have that protection. There is no law subverting their right to free speech, though they do not choose the consequences of how others respond.

No! It is not agreeable to assault a person because you do not like their apparel.

There is a 'however.' The however in this situation (the however is not an excuse for these accosting criminals) stems from the fact that for people of color and women, America, has not provided a great place to live, though in principle it has always been a great nation.

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Parading around in that MAGA hat leads opposition to equate it to wearing Ku Klux Klan regalia in conjunction with the claims of racism and sexism lobbed against President Trump. Instead of being viewed by the president's opposition as patriotic support, the hat comes off as exclusionary and divisive, a visual reminder that making America great again means bringing back the four pillars that sustaining the infrastructure sustaining that arguably great in the past: government-sanctioned racism, women suffrage issues, homophobic radicalism and religious intolerance.

President Trump's forceful behavior as the outspoken and curt person for which he is known breathes life into the ghosts of the past for many, which is why as my friend wrote:

Inspecting and praising the qualities of the victor or the amazing black people in question is only a feel-good story, not a lesson if we do not look closely at how and why there was opposition in the first place. 2

Yes, those people who want to wear the MAGA hats have a right to express their support for the president and what they believe are his ideas to improve America. The however is: What message are they sending to those people who are getting the wrong interpretation of that steadfastness to MAGA?

If the acronym stands for bringing back the good things associated with American history, their adverts, the hats, fail to present that idea to those who might otherwise wholeheartedly support it!

Why is there opposition to the MAGA? At some point, after it became the warcry of Trump supporters, someone called it racist and it stuck. President Donald Trump's personality, which yields to the sensational, polarizes the country. He is rich and White. The fact that President Trump is no minority, NOT former president Barrack Obama, is racism alone to many citizens. Therefore, his perceived misanthropy viewed through a lens of racism colors him bad.

Conclusion

No, it is not okay to attack physically people who disagree with your political views. Consequently, I support gainfully that all offenders should suffer the full weight of prosecution under the laws of the United States of America. Even the suggestion that it is favorable to attack someone for their political views becomes Ouroboros of free speech until it dies.

Better yet, let the MAGA supporters have a platform to express themselves; and opportunity to define their movement to the sacred ear of free speech and the holy text of the Constitution. In so doing, we avoid the past where minorities were not allowed to have free speech without physical attacks from their White opponents. If we do no examine why some of us feel it okay to allow feelings about speech given above the fact of the freedom of speech we will devour it until it no longer is free speech but speech free from offense, which we know is not freedom.

Comments

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AUTHOR

Rodric Anthony

6 months agofrom Peoria, Arizona

Pamela, you are so right about the president. His character speaks so much louder than his success. He is a glory seeker and is not bashful about expressing himself in that manner. It puts many people off who are used to the self-abasement of politicians we celebrate in our culture.

President Trump says he will do it and is confident. Many of us see that as arrogance, though it is not. He DOES do what he says he can do. It is sad that his character does not esteem the attention of more people who can see the good he does, including me!

As much as I am aware of his good qualities, I struggle to put aside the error of his past because the media has it constantly parading in my face and ears!

Pamela Oglesby

6 months agofrom Sunny Florida

Hi Rodric, Unfortunately those hats have caused some violence and certainly some taunting. What you hear on the news is not the majority. You are right that black people as slaves had it tough. Today many have great educations and live well. We all get along today.

The president has lowered unemployment to a record low, and more people are employed in America than ever before. Many people still hate him and the media does too for the most part.

I think it is awful to compare the hat to the Ku Klux Klan as they were horrible. I believe most of the people that wear the hats are in the middle class to show support for Trump's policies, and I doubt rich people do. Anyway, this is a good article.

AUTHOR

Rodric Anthony

6 months agofrom Peoria, Arizona

Bill, I at one time would have put on one of those hats just to dare someone to say something to me about it. I now think differently.

Bill Holland

6 months agofrom Olympia, WA

I can't find anything to argue with here, but you'll still never talk me into wearing one of those hats. lol

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